Of territorial origin from the old barony of Danzielstoun in the parish of Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire. The manor took its name from some man named Daniel, and it bore this name as early as the reign of Malcolm IV (OPS., I, p. 87). The statement of Buchanan of Auchmar that the family sprang from a younger branch of the old earls of Lennox is more than doubtful. Sir Huew de Danielestoun of Lanarkshire rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears a shield, crucilly a fess compony, S'Hvgonis de Danielst (Bain, II, p. 203,556). Johannes de Daniellyston who witnessed confirmation of a charter to Jacobus de Lekprewyk of lands in Kyle, 1365 (RMS., I, 204), as John de Daniotson (a miscopying of Daniolston) is designed dominus ejusdem in 1369 (RMP., p. 31), and in 1371 was keeper of Dumbarton Castle and a baron of parliament. In the fourteenth century the family held the greater part of the barony of Glencairn in Dumfriesshire, and Robert de Danyelestona, son of John de Danyelestona, had a charter "totam baroniam de Glencarne cum pertinenciis" in the sheriffdom of Dumfries which his father had resigned in 1370 (RMS., I, 362). Sir John de Danyelstona had a confirmation of all his lands of Mauldisley, etc., in 1373 (ibid., 493), and Johannes de Danyeellstoun witnessed a charter of the lands of Duppolle to the Friars Preachers of Ayr, 1381 (Friars, Ayr, p. 23). The family ended in the direct line in an heiress, Margeret, "who in 1404 carried the baronies of Glencairn and Kilmarnock to her husband Sir William Cunningham, ancestor of the earls of Glencairn." Robert de Danyelstoun attested a charter of the lands of Myrecairnie and others in Fife c. 1390 (Wemyss, II, 27). William Dennestoun was a witness in Linlithgow, 1536 (Johnsoun), John Dennilstoun was archdeacon of Dunblane, 1545 (CMN., 61), and Robert Danyelstone, rector of Dysart, 1551 (Dysart, p. 20). The daughters of Cherles Danielstoun were infeft in the lands of Petliver, 1566 (Pitfirrane, 157), and Robert Denniestoun or Danielston was admitted freeman of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, 1597 (PSAS., XXV, p. 175). James Denisone, (church) elder in the perochine of Kirkcaldie, 1641 (PBK, p. 210). Daneelstoun 1439, Danielistoun 1513, Danielstone 1552, Dannelstone 1371, Danyeistone 1500, Danyelstoun 1545, Danzelston 1531, Deneldstoun and Denelstoun 1575, Denestoun 1515, Dennestoune 1622, Dennielstoun 1365, Denzelstoun 1574; Danastoun, Danniestone, Denniestoun, Dinnistoun.

The Dennistouns "of that Ilk," have an extraordinary way of accounting for their surname. One Danziel, or Daniel, (say they) probably of Norman extraction, settled in Renfrewshire, and calling the estate Danzielstoun, assumed therefrom his surname! The family are uuquestionably ancient, the name appearing in a charter of king Malcolm IV., who died in 1165, but the Norman Danziel is probably a genealogical figment. The English Denisons are said to have sprung from a cadet of this ancient house, who went from Scotland temp. Charles I., and fought at Marston Moor. B.L.G.

Local: from the lands of Dennistoun in Renfrewshire. The family have been seated in the west of Scotland since the eleventh century-in the time of Malcolm IV, one Danziel, probably a Norman, received a grant of lands which he called Danzielstoun. The family are descended from Sir Hugh de Danzielstoun, 1296. his descendants have ever since bom a crowned heart in their arms. Before the death of Brace in 1329 the arms of the family were azure, three mullets argent.